From burst pipes to break-ins, one in four Canadians have faced issues while away from home: TD Insurance survey

EmitenTrust.com Nearly half of Canadians will leave homes unattended this fall or winter, with 71% concerned something could go wrong while they're away

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- As winter approaches, many Canadians are already planning on escaping the weather, leaving their home alone to face the elements. According to a new TD Insurance survey, nearly half of Canadians (48%) intend to leave their primary residence unattended for more than one day this fall or winter for a vacation, holiday, leisure trip or other reasons.  For cottage, cabin and other secondary property owners, that figure soars to 81%.

While Canadians are largely confident they know how to prepare their homes before leaving, the poll also reveals a gap between preparedness and understanding what their insurance policy may require.

Key findings from this TD Insurance survey:

• 25% of Canadians say they have experienced a property issue while away, rising to 62% among seasonal or secondary property owners.
• 48% of Canadians say they plan to leave their property unattended this fall or winter, yet only 61% know what their insurance policy requires when they are away.
• 86% of Canadians say they feel confident they can properly prepare their home before going away, but 71% still worry something could go wrong.
• 38% of Canadians say they feel anxious leaving their property unattended and 26% say concerns about their home have distracted them from enjoying time away.

"Whether Canadians are heading south for the winter, travelling for the holidays, or closing up a seasonal properties like cottages or cabins, a little preparation can go a long way," said Lydia Roy, Vice President Product and Pricing, General Insurance at TD Insurance. "Being proactive and understanding your coverage can help property owners identify potential risks before they become larger, more costly issues."

Concerns are grounded in real experience

For many Canadians, concern about an unattended property is not hypothetical. One in four (25%) Canadians who have left their home unattended for more than one day have experienced a weather, electrical, plumbing or security issue while away. This increases significantly for those who own vacation properties. Almost 2 in 3 (62%) seasonal or secondary property owners in Canada who have left a property unattended for more than one day have experienced these issues.

Among Canadians intending to leave their home unattended this fall or winter, the top concerns include:

• Power outages (32%)
• Theft, break-ins or vandalism (29%)
• Frozen or burst pipes (26%)
• Storm or weather-related damage (25%)
• Water damage (25%)

Those worries can follow Canadians while they are away: more than one in three feel anxious leaving their property unattended (38%), and one in four say concerns about their home have distracted them from enjoying their time away (26%).

Practical preparation is common, but insurance checks lag

Canadians are taking practical steps before leaving their property unattended, but they are much less likely to review insurance requirements.

Before leaving a property unattended, Canadians say they would:

• Arrange for someone to check on the property (53%)
• Conduct a final walk-through (51%)
• Adjust the thermostat (49%)

But when it comes to insurance preparedness, far fewer Canadians say they would:

• Check what their insurance policy may require while the property is unattended (15%)
• Notify their insurance company (7%)

The gap extends to how Canadians understand the impact of their actions: only one in three (33%) think about whether failing to meet certain requirements could affect their insurance coverage before leaving a property unattended.

"One of the most common misconceptions is that coverage remains exactly the same no matter how long a home sits empty," said Roy. "Some policies may include conditions related to extended absences, which is why reviewing your coverage before you leave is so critical."

Unattended Homes and Home Insurance: What Canadians Need to Know

1. What should I do before leaving my home unattended while travelling?

Before leaving your home unattended, consider arranging someone to check the property, conducting a final walk-through, adjusting the thermostat, and reviewing what your insurance policy may require during your absence.

2. Does home insurance coverage stay the same when a property is left unattended?

Not necessarily. Some home insurance policies may include conditions related to extended absences, so homeowners should review their policy before leaving and confirm whether any requirements apply. According to the TD Insurance survey, only 61% of Canadians know what their insurance policy requires when their property is left unattended.

3. What problems can happen when a home is left unattended?

Common concerns include power outages, theft or break-ins, frozen or burst pipes, storm damage and water damage. Among Canadians planning to leave their home unattended this fall or winter, 32% were concerned about power outages, 29% about theft, break-ins or vandalism, 26% about frozen or burst pipes, and 25% about storm-related or water damage.

4. How common are property issues while Canadians are away from home?

One in four Canadians who have left a property unattended for more than one day say they have experienced a weather, electrical, plumbing or security issue while away. The figure rises to 62% among seasonal or secondary property owners who have left a property unattended for more than one day.

5. Why should I review my home insurance policy before going away?

Reviewing your home insurance policy can help you understand what  conditions apply while the property is unattended and whether failing to meet certain requirements could affect coverage. The TD Insurance survey found that only 15% of Canadians would check what their policy may require before leaving a property unattended, while just 33% consider how not meeting certain requirements could affect their insurance coverage.

About the TD Insurance survey

This TD Insurance survey, conducted using the Leger Opinion panel, ran from September 23 to 28, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 1,505 Canadian adults. The results have been weighted by age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,500 has an estimated margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About TD Bank Group

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves 28.2 million clients in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Banking, including TD Auto Finance U.S. and TD Wealth (U.S.); Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among North America's leading digital banks, with more than 14 million active mobile users in Canada and the U.S. TD had $2.1 trillion in assets on July 31, 2026. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange.

SOURCE TD Bank Group